View Full Version : X100: To Buy or Not To Buy, that is the Q
anthony_semone
12-10-2011, 10:42
So what's the current day status of folks' X100's going belly-up with sticky aperture blades? Just when I thought it might be safe to buy one of these puppies, I read on www.x100forum of a "Leica M9" poll detailing the travail.
Have Fuji still not figured out WTF is going on here?
Just spoke with Fuji NJ yesterday. They said latest serial numbers 14+should have no problem and that the older ones will be replaced with new shutter assembly free of charge.
Yeah mine had the lens unit replaced and seems to be 100% 500 actuations on. it developed around 200 actuations in, and showed signs of problems early on. I think this replacement unit is 100%
rbelyell
12-10-2011, 11:13
traded my much loved 5d for one of these puppies a month ago--it was BNIB. no regrets at all. have had nothing but great performance from it, not one problem. best low light high iso performance ive ever seen from any camera any price. all pix have that 'pop' we associate with zeiss lenses--makes the ordinary special. take the plunge!
I'll just add that IMO it's the best digital camera to come out in the last 5-6 years. If you really like the 35mm focal length it's probably the best camera available at the moment. It's right up there in IQ with 5d/d700's and complements them perfectly. I'd be happy to use just an X100 by itself though.
I loved the camera while I owned it but ultimately with the prospect of a new fuji around the corner with the option for other lenses I opted to sell it while I could still get a reasonable offer for it. I liked it but I hated manual focus and the AF sucked for low light which is primarily how I like to shoot. I got some great images with it though.
celluloidprop
12-10-2011, 11:27
I haven't had the issue with my X100 - serial 13A - I guess Fuji isn't issuing a recall or encouraging you to send it in unless the issue makes an appearance?
I love mine.
God i miss mine. As soon as i get my tax return i'am running to get mine.
anthony_semone
12-10-2011, 11:57
thanks, folks, for your replies. I expect that with all things, there's always a risk involved, eh? :) I've got a D700 for stuff where I really need high ISO, and my Contax G2 for film work. I really like the 35mm FL, but I'm not concerned about interchangeable lens capability since I've got that already covered with my Nikon gear.
Roger Hicks
12-10-2011, 12:32
Not.
Next question please.
Seriously, as long as it does what you want, and you can afford it, why not buy it? And if it doesn't do what you want, or if you have some existential dread about its being replaced by something newer or going wrong, why buy it? The mere fact that you're asking suggests that you don't really want one all that much.
Cheers,
R.
...if you have some existential dread about its being replaced by something newer...
Important to note that it's not being replaced - they're bringing out a new camera with interchangeable lenses to sell alongside the x100. The x100 will most likely be significantly cheaper, smaller, and more tuned to the 35mm focal length. Fujifilm also said there will be a great surprise for all x100 owners in early 2012 - which translates as a big firmware update/improvement to me.
Honestly the camera is already good enough to last the next 10 years if all you need is a 35mm lens. The IQ is better than most cameras under 2K.
Roger Hicks
12-10-2011, 13:13
Important to note that it's not being replaced - they're bringing out a new camera with interchangeable lenses to sell alongside the x100. The x100 will most likely be significantly cheaper, smaller, and more tuned to the 35mm focal length. Fujifilm also said there will be a great surprise for all x100 owners in early 2012 - which translates as a big firmware update/improvement to me.
Honestly the camera is already good enough to last the next 10 years if all you need is a 35mm lens. The IQ is better than most cameras under 2K.
Dear Gavin,
First highlight: Have you a source for this? I'm afraid I've not been paying attention.
Second highlight: You must surely be right.
Cheers,
R.
Dear Gavin,
First highlight: Have you a source for this? I'm afraid I've not been paying attention.
Second highlight: You must surely be right.
Cheers,
R.
Roger - here is the announcement on the dpreview news feed: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/10/05/fujifilm
Roger Hicks
12-10-2011, 14:22
Roger - here is the announcement on the dpreview news feed: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/10/05/fujifilm
Dear Gavin,
Thanks.
Cheers,
R.
Not.
Next question please.
Seriously, as long as it does what you want, and you can afford it, why not buy it? And if it doesn't do what you want, or if you have some existential dread about its being replaced by something newer or going wrong, why buy it? The mere fact that you're asking suggests that you don't really want one all that much.
Cheers,
R.
You're SUPPOSED to want it...
anthony_semone
12-10-2011, 15:21
Not.
Next question please.
Seriously, as long as it does what you want, and you can afford it, why not buy it? And if it doesn't do what you want, or if you have some existential dread about its being replaced by something newer or going wrong, why buy it? The mere fact that you're asking suggests that you don't really want one all that much.
Cheers,
R.
Gee, Roger, I had no idea that, amongst your many talents, you also have the capability of reading the mind of a person whom you've never met :D LOL Hmmm, and asking for input is the indicia thereof??? Excellent!!
May I respectfully suggest you stay within the arena of your competence.
to all of you who have provided helpful responses, thanks, and I apologize for the commercial interruption :eek:
nebraska
12-10-2011, 17:19
Buy it. I had the shutter problem. It got fixed by replacing the lens within two weeks. The picture taking ability of this camera is outstanding in terms of quality. I don't think it is particularly easy to use if you have big hands or fat fingers since several functions are set by "smallish" buttons. But then it is a camera that is light and quite "pocket-able." It is not a speedy but a quality picture taker. It reminds me of the Contax G2 camera.
Leigh Youdale
12-10-2011, 18:06
Gee, Roger, I had no idea that, amongst your many talents, you also have the capability of reading the mind of a person whom you've never met :D LOL Hmmm, and asking for input is the indicia thereof??? Excellent!!
May I respectfully suggest you stay within the arena of your competence.
to all of you who have provided helpful responses, thanks, and I apologize for the commercial interruption :eek:
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umcelinho
12-10-2011, 19:11
I loved the camera while I owned it but ultimately with the prospect of a new fuji around the corner with the option for other lenses I opted to sell it while I could still get a reasonable offer for it. I liked it but I hated manual focus and the AF sucked for low light which is primarily how I like to shoot. I got some great images with it though.
likewise. for casual snaps with enough light it's superb, but when it gets too dark it sometimes can struggle to focus. i got it already knowing that and for taking it around to a bar with friends, or a birthday or whatever else is great. for concerts it should be also fantastic, since the focus can be set manually and wont likely change (unless you're close to the stage and moving around, which most likely would be the case of taking a different camera). but to me, for low light street shooting a rangefinder still is a more adequate tool.
ps: i just got home from a gathering with friends from college, it's been a decade we're all friends. the x100 was the perfect camera for registering that.
The images this camera produces are genuinely astonishing. Not good, or 'really impressive for such a small camera' but tremendous for ANY 35mm sized camera and simply unbelievable for a small non-SLR camera. They are much, much better than quality pro DSLRs generations back (like a D2XS) and very, very close to the 5DII on noise at high ISO. Now that I have put some time into learning how to use the thing it operates very simply and is a wonderful carry everywhere camera. The video is v good too!
I love mine and know I made the right purchase decision. If they do bring out an interchangeable lens version it may become my solution in place of digital Leica M. We shall see.
If the X100 was not a 35mm lens then I would be all over that. Sadly 35's and I dont get along, though it makes me wonder if I should just try harder.
And they are coming down in price domestically so that its on par with what the rest of the world is paying rather than a 60% markup.
I say go for it.
abo_1970
12-11-2011, 06:10
I have put my evil dSLR up for sale to get one of these beauties... not only was I sick and tired of hoisting that dSLR brick around and have back problems at the end of the day, but I also missed the unobtrusiveness of a RF and the quality of the low light shots.
With all the positive and negative things being written and posted about the X100 it took me long time, until about two weeks ago to push the order button, when I saw that B&H had them in stock and hit the place order button.
So far haven't been able to do an serious shooting, just a few late night walks plus a bunch of snaps of our cats :)
Design and layout : Very very pleased find as I've always prefer the older Leica M, Nikon FE/FM, Pentax LX/MX body design to the modern SLR/DSLR designs.
Image quality: Well so far 99% of the images I've taken have been at F-2 with a good number of them using the close-up setting. So far extremely pleased with image quality shooting RAW processing in JPAS.
Going to use it tomorrow morning to shoot with a model for the first time, as both a POLAROID to check lighting (Strobes) before shooting with my 533/16 plus will be using it as my main camera for about 1/3-1/2 of the shoot just for a fun test.
anthony_semone
12-11-2011, 09:17
Yes, abo_1970, 12 days in Paris walking 4-6 miles per day with my D700 proved quite en-light-ening. NOT. and that only with either a 24/2 or a 50/1.2 Too darn heavy, and, at least for me, 35mm+/- works very nicely.
@Mcary,
yep, I pulled said "trigger," (gotta be careful of the sarcasm police on this site) :D, and should have it on Tuesday. I'm quite excited to learn its idiosyncrasies as well as to its reportedly superb color rendition, at least as said by some users.
tony
I've pulled the trigger today too. There was one for sale on getdpi for quite some time. I thought I can't go wrong at 700 euro. I can resell it if we don't get along, they normally go for around 900 on the German X100 forum.
Frank Version Two
12-11-2011, 10:27
Why not wait six months and get one for $800 with a clean shutter? It's Winter anyways....
mackigator
12-11-2011, 11:23
I wanted the x100 badly until I was able to use a friends. Now I want one a bit less - certainly capable, but not nearly as much of a home run as I'd hoped. The manual focus ring is an absolute joke if you're used to M lenses and the AF system (on which you must then depend) leaves something to be desired.
But I do love the viewfinder as well as the image rendering of the lens. Hopefully that tech goes into more cameras in the future.
back alley
12-11-2011, 11:27
i miss mine...will look hard at the interchangeable lens model when it come out.
I really enjoy the results from the X100 although it does have a little less enjoyable handling quirks. I say get it or borow one and give it a go.
That said, I've just pressed the button on it's tiny brother the X10. I couldn't resist the temptaion.
abo_1970
12-18-2011, 01:50
Well, I picked mine up yesterday, together with the leather case and the hood.
Very impressed so far with how quiet it is and the fact that my 2-year old son doesn't recognize it as a camera yet, giving me the chance to take shots while he doesn't notice. Also very impressed with the image quality, especially under low light conditions. And I very much like the hybrid viewfinder!
I'm quite sure I am going to enjoy this camera more than my K7 (which I sold to get the X100)...
rbelyell
12-18-2011, 04:51
the only 'problem' with this camera is the unrealistic expectations of its users. as i read comments i find it interesting that people expect more from their cameras than they do of their spouses! ): nothing is perfect in every way, but the results achievable with this camera are superlative. unfortunately it won't cook your dinner...
jsrockit
12-19-2011, 01:48
Not.
Next question please.
Seriously, as long as it does what you want, and you can afford it, why not buy it? And if it doesn't do what you want, or if you have some existential dread about its being replaced by something newer or going wrong, why buy it? The mere fact that you're asking suggests that you don't really want one all that much.
Cheers,
R.
I have to agree with this. You can buy the camera and use it. OR you can keep waiting for the best thing for your money and never buy. This is about photography, not investing. I, for one, love the X100.
Yep - as far as a maximum IQ, maximum function (dials, optical VF) minimum size, minimum price take everywhere camera with a 35mm lens goes, there isn't a better camera around right now. Possibly not for a long time.
After schlepping around heavy DSLR's around for so long - and almost going for an M9 - I am very happy with my decision to purchase the X-100. Very easy to carry around - and the quality is exceptional. Only thing that "got-me" was having to have separate RAW file to JPG conversion software around - mostly on company laptop. Otherwise, with LR3 there is no issue. Amazing that Fuji does not make or provide a software converter........
anthony_semone
12-20-2011, 04:40
I'm going into the end of my first week of ownership, and flat-out love it. The .jpg quality is just stunning, and AWB is so much more accurate than my Nikon D700 or D7000. I'm still getting used to the idiosyncrasies of the control/menu layouts and programming options. I especially didn't like it - though not entirely unexpected - that the positioning of my right thumb on the camera body is a direct transfer from my Nikon bodies and hence has me inadvertently pressing the control wheel and getting video GRRRR. I got a "Thumbs Up" to correct that, though of course not w/o a (small) price to pay in form factor. Well no such thing as a free lunch :) I like it so much that my interest in an M9 is once again renewed, so soon as I can wrap my head around it, I'm selling my Nikon gear to help fund it. :)
jsrockit
12-20-2011, 04:43
I don't think there has been a more polarizing camera since the M9.
anthony_semone
12-20-2011, 05:02
??? Polarizing ???
Maybe the posting refers to a camera that caused a polarization between people here; some like it and some don't .... I am not interested in it. Others swear by it.
jsrockit
12-20-2011, 05:27
??? Polarizing ???
po·lar·ize [poh-luh-rahyz]
verb (used with object)
1. to cause polarization in.
2. to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc.: The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.
There is something about the filesvthat this camera produces which just looks more real-maybe that they remind me of film. They dont look digital. I have a 5D also which I will never sell, but this camera is a flat bargain at 1200 bucks. I cant put it down
I've had mine for a while now. Since the beginning of Sept. I guess..I did have the sticky aperture blades issue and it was repaired in a timely manner. It's been ok so far.
I really like the camera, but sometimes it can be annoying.. like earlier today when I couldn't get it to focus in low light.. or how easily the power button seems to turn on when it's in my bag or something. The IQ is so good I can't really complain too much though. I just live with its quirks and enjoy what I get from it.
Wolf Rainer Schmalfu
01-03-2012, 22:04
Pls read the recent comparison X100 vs. Leica M9 from Erwin Puts. His report might help you making an decision.
Cheers;)
jsrockit
01-04-2012, 03:39
Pls read the recent comparison X100 vs. Leica M9 from Erwin Puts. His report might help you making an decision.
Cheers;)
One may want to quit photography after reading his articles... ;)
Bike Tourist
02-14-2012, 06:45
Precision Camera's RFF special price pushed me over the edge. It's on its way!
boomguy57
02-14-2012, 07:13
I have had mine for several months now, serial 13M, and haven't had a problem. Shutter actuations approaching 5k. I have taken it to England as my only camera and couldn't have been happier--it allows me to travel light and still get fantastic image quality (fantastic images are another issue, but that's mostly user-error). The latest firmware--1.13--has helped AF speed in general, and AF speed and accuracy in low light.
If anyone is thinking about getting one, go for it. It's my favorite digital camera and my D700 hasn't really been touched since I got the X100 in early October...anyone want to buy a used D700 in great shape :) ?
The X-Pro1 gives me pause, however. It's bigger, the shutter won't be as quiet, and with a lens it's double the price...
Bike Tourist
02-14-2012, 07:17
I have had mine for several months now, serial 13M, and haven't had a problem. Shutter actuations approaching 5k. I have taken it to England as my only camera and couldn't have been happier--it allows me to travel light and still get fantastic image quality (fantastic images are another issue, but that's mostly user-error). The latest firmware--1.13--has helped AF speed in general, and AF speed and accuracy in low light.
If anyone is thinking about getting one, go for it. It's my favorite digital camera and my D700 hasn't really been touched since I got the X100 in early October...anyone want to buy a used D700 in great shape :) ?
The X-Pro1 gives me pause, however. It's bigger, the shutter won't be as quiet, and with a lens it's double the price...
Well, I hope I still have some use for the D7000, but I like the idea the X100 might fascinate for quite awhile. Another advantage to the X100 — no more cleaning the low pass filter!
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